Radon is Real!

Threat from toxic gas unrecognized by most homeowners

Becky Chenhall, radon educator with the UGA Cooperative Extension Service, demonstrates preparing a radon test kit for home use. The free kits are easy to use, yield quick results and are available to all homeowners in WEMC's service area.

Becky Chenhall is worried about your family.

Chenhall, a radon educator for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, is on a mission. That mission is to make you aware of one of the nation's most important environmental threats.

Through grant funding provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Chenhall is one of four regional radon educators hired through UGA's College of Family & Consumer Sciences as part of a massive radon education program just begun in Georgia. The program includes both information and testing strategies.

Q: What is radon?

A: Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the soil. It's produced when uranium decays, working its way up through the soil into the atmosphere. Granite rock, common in our area, contains large amounts of uranium.

People in all counties should be concerned about radon and test their homes. The EPA classifies two counties in the Walton EMC service area, DeKalb and Gwinnett, as especially prone to high radon levels.

You can't see, taste or smell radon. Outdoors, radon is quickly diluted by the atmosphere and poses no problem. But if radon seeps from soil under your home, it could build to hazardous levels in the relatively stagnant air in the living space. "About one in 15 homes in our area will have high radon readings," says Chenhall.

Q: Why should I be concerned about radon?

A: Radon causes more deaths each year in the United States than drowning, fire and airline crashes combined. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer and claims 15,000 to 22,000 lives annually.

Radon is a class A carcinogen. That means the scientific data backing radon research is among the most reliable, based on human studies rather than animal trials or computer models. The Surgeon General has even issued a health advisory concerning radon exposure.

As you breathe, radon and radon decay products enter your lungs. These substances release small bursts of energy. These energy bursts can damage lung tissue as well as DNA and lead to lung cancer.

Q: How do I know if I'm at risk of radon exposure?

A: "Every home should be tested for radon," says Chenhall. "It doesn't matter if your neighbor next door has tested and found no problem. Geology can change rapidly."

"And there's no reason to be afraid of testing. You won't have to tear down your home or move out if there's a radon problem. Fortunately, it's usually easy and relatively inexpensive to fix."

As part of the radon education program, the Cooperative Extension Service is providing free radon test kits to homeowners. The test is easy, requires minimum time and saves up to $200, the amount some professionals charge for testing.

There is no way to test radon levels before a new home is finished. If you're building a new home, ask your contractor to install radon mitigation measures during construction. It's only a fraction of the cost of retrofitting later.

Common remedies for radon problems move the gas from below the home to the air above the roofline where it?s quickly diluted to harmless levels.

Q: What if I get a high reading from my radon test?

A: Don't panic. You'll need to confirm the first high reading with a second test. If the second test has similar results, it's best to contact a certified radon mitigation contractor for help.

Typical costs for remedying the problem run from $500 to $2,500. The contractor will probably use a combination of sealing techniques and depressurization of the slab or crawl space using a vent stack and electric fan.

Q: How do I get a free test kit?

A: Contact the Cooperative Extension Service radon educator in your area. For Gwinnett, Rockdale and DeKalb counties, call Sharon Cook at 678/377-4010. For Walton, Oconee, Athens-Clarke, Morgan, Barrow, Newton and Greene counties, call Becky Chenhall at 770/267-1324.

For more information, look at UGA's School of Family and Consumer Sciences site and click on the radon link. Another good site is Southface Energy Institute. You can also call the Georgia Radon Hotline at 404/872-3549 or 800/745-0037.